Terminal connector for electrical conductors



Aug 31, 1948- v w. ,1. LARKIN v 2,448,268

TERMINAL CONNECTOR FOR ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS Filed Maron fr, 1946 Patented Aug. 31, 1948 William J. Larkin, Lynniield, Mass., National Company,y Inc., Malden,

FFICE ELECTRICAL assignor to l Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts i y Application March 7, 1946, Serial No. 652,650

claims. (ci. `17344269) This invention relates to a terminal for securing an electric conductor to a contact and nds a particular application in ,making a connection to the projecting prong contacts the end of the tube. K

In the present-day development of electronic mechanism tubes of small lsize are increasingly factory. The object of the invention is to provide a construction which will meet the demands of just referred to, as will be My invention will be well understood by reference to the following description taken in connecinvention; lFig. 2 is an enlarged view of terminal as seen in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view of the other side; Fig. 4 is a section Fig. 5 is a section one side of i the of the system of which the tube forms a part. T is connection is herein diagrammatically illustrated by the showing of a conducting Wire w soldered to the end of the strip. y

Mounted at the other end of the strip, that at the left in-tlie drawing, is a gripping element I2 which is made of rela Vely hard and 'brittle' and more resilient metal,v such as a suitable alloy of copper and beryllium. Herein the element I2 has a part. I 4 mounted on one face of the strip I 0 and herein l shown as held thereagainst by integral ears I6 projecting from t e longitudinal edges ofv the strip vI0 and .bent over the part-I4.. The end of this part may have an upturned lug I8 form.- ing 'a projection interlocking with the ears I6 and preventing withdrawal of the element I2 toward the left iti the figures. The piece I2 isbent across the end lof the strip I0 and rebent to provide a resilient jaw -20 overhanging and opposing the other face of thestrip lllyand this jaw may be provided with a 'groove 22 to receive the prong p When it is thrust beneath the jaw between the same and the opposing face of the. strip IU in a direction transverse to the length of the latter. The ends of the groove may be slightly flared as best seen in Fig. 5 to facilitate entrance of the prong.

I 0 which terminal the tube for a considerable distance before being electrically connected to some other element of the electronic system, as is desirable for electrical reasons. It m-ay be freely bent or twisted or convenience of making the desired connection may dictate in a manner which would be impossible were it hard and resilient. The twist illustrated is an example of such a deformation. It is also Well adapted to resist the use oi the system of which it forms a part. The construction is simple, easy and inexpensive to manufacture.

I am aware that the invention may be embodied in other specific f-orms Without departing from the spirit or essential. attributes thereof, and I therefore desire thevpresent embodiment to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, as is in fact clear in several matters from the description itself. Reference is to be had to the appended claims to' indicate those-prine ciples of the invention exemplified by the particular embodiment described and which I desire to secure by Letters Patent.

I claim:

1. A terminal connector for an electrical conductor for making connection-to a rod-like contact comprising an elongated ribbon of sof-t fiercshocks arising during ible metal, a relatively short piece of relatively hard resilient metal secured to one face of an end of the ribbon, leaving'the greater portion of the ribbon as a freely iiexible, low resistance conductor for extension `tol and connection at a remote point, said piece being recurved over the ribbon to provide a resilient armopposing the other face between which arm and the other face the contact may be inserted to be powerfully pressed into direct contact with the ribbon.

2. A terminal connector for an electrical vconductor for making connection toa rod-like contact comprising an elongated ribbon of soft ilexible' metal, a relativelyr short piece of relatively hard resilient metal having a part overlying' one face of'an end of the ri bon, leaving the' greater portion of the ribbon as a freely exible, low resistance Vconductor for extension to and connection at a remote point, said part being mechanically interlocked with the end of the ribbon and being recurved over the other face thereof to provide a resilient arm' opposing the other faceV between which'arm and the other face the contact may be inserted to be powerfully pressed into direct contact with the ribbon.

3. A terminal connector for an electrical conductor for making connection to a rod-like contact comprising an elongated ribbon of soft flexible metal, a piece of relatively hard resilient metal having `a part overlying one face 'of an end of the ribbon, 'leaving' the greaterportion `tact comprising a .finingA a' pair of opposed gripping of the ribbon as a freely flexible, low resistance conductor for extension to and connection at a remote point the ribbon having marginal ears bent over said part to secure it, the part having a projection to interlock the ears, the piece being recurved over the ribbon to provide a resilient arm opposing trie other face between which arm and the other face the contact may be inserted to -be powerfully pressed into direct contact with the ribbon.

y '4. A terminal connector for an electrical conductor for making contact with a rod-like conspring of resilient metal dejaws and a facing ofvrelatively soft metal at the inner face of one only of the jaws, said facing being integrally extended asl a lrelatively long ribbon-like conductor for extension to and connection at a remote point.

5. A terminal connector for an electrical conductor for making connection to a rod-like contact comprising an elongated ribbon of flexible metal and a short spring of relatively resilient metal mounted on one face thereof adjacent an end, the spring having opposed, relatively yieldable arms to the inner face of one of which an end portion of the ribbon is secured, leaving the'g'reater portion of the ribbon as a freely ilexible, low resistance conductor for extension to and connection at a remote point, the contact being insertable between said end portion of the ribbon and the second arm to be powerfully grasped by the resilient arm and pressed by the resilient reaction into direct contact with the end portion 0f the ribbon which is supported by the rs't'arm.

WILLIAM J. LARKIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

